1,750 Officers Trained as Gov’t Intensifies Fight Against Human Trafficking
Law enforcement officers from key security and enforcement agencies have received training to strengthen their capacity to identify, investigate and respond effectively to human trafficking and emerging forms of exploitation.
The two-day capacity-building training held from 23rd to 24th September in Accra brought together officers from the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service and other relevant institutions.
In a statement delivered on her behalf by the Chief Director of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Marian Kpakpah, the Minister, Hon. Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, said the fight against human trafficking required sustained investment in professional capacity and stronger collaboration among law enforcement agencies.
She urged participants to deepen their knowledge of the Human Trafficking Act, 2005 (Act 694) and the Human Trafficking Regulations, 2015 (L.I. 2219), while strengthening victim identification, victim-centred interviewing, referrals, evidence collection, investigations and prosecution of trafficking offences.
The Minister disclosed that, over the last three years, the Human Trafficking Secretariat had built the capacity of 1,750 law enforcement officers from the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service, EOCO and the Customs Division in collaboration with partners.
She stressed that as traffickers adopt new technologies and methods, law enforcement agencies must remain informed, vigilant, professional and responsive.
The Director of the Human Trafficking Secretariat, Madam Abena Annobea Asare, also took participants through the basic concepts of human trafficking in Ghana, highlighting the need for frontline officers to understand the nature and dynamics of trafficking in order to identify and respond appropriately to cases.
The training covered key areas including human trafficking and migrant smuggling, modern trends and consequences, identification and investigation of trafficking cases, child trafficking and worst forms of child labour, investigation and prosecution of sex and labour trafficking offences, victim protection and emerging cyber-related trafficking crimes.
The programme was organised by the Human Trafficking Secretariat of the Ministry in collaboration with the International Justice Mission.
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